Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh: A Celebratory (Half) Year in Review
Hello Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh members!
It may not be springtime but we continue to blossom and grow. So to you, our 145 members, I bring you all good tidings and a wintery mix of our milestones and achievements from the past six months. Here is our celebratory ½ year in review:
We’re thrilled to report that we raised over $10,000 through our various efforts, with an additional generous donation from the Douden Foundation that significantly supported our programming and outreach initiatives. These funds have been instrumental in helping us expand our activities, offer more opportunities for our members, and plan exciting events for the year ahead.
In a new tradition, the Community Celebration at Vellum Fermentation allowed us to reflect on the last 10+ years of FGP public art, from Knit the Bridge to the Calico Dress. We gave awards and words of gratitude to each other and named Laura Tabakman a Lifetime Member!
Our annual potluck and auction evolved into the Stash Bash and this beloved event brought together members to celebrate in Millvale and take home amazing auction items. The summer potluck at Diane’s was another highlight, providing a relaxed and joyful opportunity for members to share their current work outdoors in the cool breeze and leaf-filtered sunlight.
We were proud to host our second non-jurored member exhibition, Spotlight, at NHAC. This event allowed us to highlight the diverse talents of our members and the artist talk was inspiring! Our ongoing exhibition at the Erie Museum is quite the “feather in our caps” as Michelle Browne would say. There is still time to check it out and make this your first 2025 road trip.
Our outreach efforts were strong in 2024! We had a presence at a Fair in the Park and Handmade Arcade, where we engaged with the public, demoed various fiber techniques, and showcased the incredible work of our Guild members. These were an excellent opportunity to connect with potential new members. We also launched our weaving kits, offering hands-on learning opportunities while raising funds to support the Guild’s ongoing activities and nearly sold out in one day at Handmade Arcade.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the passion, dedication, and hard work of our members. We’re excited for what’s to come in 2025, and we’re grateful to have such a vibrant, creative, and supportive community.
Thank you and Happy New Year from me and the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh!
Staci Offutt
FGP President 2024-2025